It's that time of year. It's senior spring, and college acceptance letters are rolling in. I remember how on-edge everyone was during this time. Some people didn't tell anyone where they were applying, others told every single person they knew. Some people will walk down the halls screaming, others sobbing. But one of the hardest things about this time is that sometimes you just don't get your first choice, or the college decisions didn't go as smoothly as you'd hope. If you are one of these people or if you know someone going through this, here is what you should know:
Don't take it personally.
Don't let your waitlist or rejection letter discourage you. Just because you did not get the acceptance letter you wanted does not mean that you are a failure; decisions tend to be random because there are so many qualified candidates for only a few spaces. So it doesn't mean that you're not qualified, it just means that acceptance was competitive and someone else got the luck of the draw.
Everything happens for a reason.
Although it can be devastating to be turned down from your top choice, it does not mean that your life is over. Maybe you were meant to go closer or farther away from home. Maybe that means you would fit in somewhere else better anyway. Either way, sometimes you just have to let fate take control and find happiness on a different path than what you expected.
You may end up liking another college even more than you would have expected.
Many of my friends who ended up at their second or third choice college as opposed to their first choice are so happy with their decision after they have experienced it this past year or two. They even say that they cannot imagine themselves anywhere else and that it was one of the best decisions they had ever made. They now laugh at the fact that they were once devastated at not getting in to certain places, because they managed to find happiness at a place they never would have expected.
Stay positive.
It's okay to be upset that you didn't get your first choice, but try not to hold on to your sadness for the rest of the year. You never know, if you are waitlisted things may end up working in your favor, or if you were rejected you can look forward to an experience at a new school that may be more amazing than you think. And don't forget to enjoy the rest of your senior year! Take a break from the college stress and just enjoy your last moments with your high school friends for as long as you can!